Area Information for New Residents

Welcome to Pullman! The Welcome Committee has gathered this information to help you settle in. If you’re new to the area, please email welcometopullman@gmail.com so we can arrange to deliver your welcome gift!

PULLMAN ORGANIZATIONS

Pullman is home to a wide variety of ways to expand both one’s civic and social life! For more information about these groups see the articles and calendar in the Pullman Flyer, published monthly and check out social networks or visit the Visitor’s Center at 11141 Cottage Grove. Come to a Pullman Civic Organization meeting and learn more!

The Pullman Civic Organization holds monthly meetings for residents to discuss issues in the Pullman community. We encourage all residents to attend and learn about what’s happening in our community! Monthly General Meetings are the 3rd Wednesdays at the Visitor Center at 7:30 pm. Board meetings held monthly on the 2nd Wednesdays at the Historic Center at 614 E 113th street. Annual membership to the PCO is $10.

To learn more about the PCO and the Committees, please check the About the PCO page and corresponding dropdown pages.

Two great entryway committees are:

Beman Committee (Historic Restoration & Preservation)

A standing committee of the Pullman Civic Organization, formed to research and document the history of the Pullman community. The committee developed a Homeowners Manual to help assist property owners understand and appreciate the restoration process. Annually awards a reimbursement of up to $1000 for restoration guidelines for returning or restoring original facade features. To learn more about the facade program, click here.

Pullman Safety Committee

The partnership between police and community. The primary reason for holding beat community meetings is for beat officers and the community to engage in joint problem solving. Monthly meetings for Beat 531 hosted by the police dept. at the Greenstone United Methodist Church 11211 St Lawrence on the 3rd Tuesday.

In addition to the PCO other non-profit organizations in the neighborhood include:

The Foundation serves as a preservation and education group within the Pullman Historic District; and also maintains an archival collection. Volunteers and Park Rangers lead the 1st Sunday Neighborhood Walking Tour during warmer months. The Foundation also maintains the Pullman Visitor Center on 11141 S Cottage Grove. Annual membership.

This official support group for the Pullman State Historic site was formed to provide education and development in order to maintain the Site. Its current goals are to conserve the Rear Erecting Shop on the factory grounds with an eye to creative reuse, bring a Pullman car to the site for restoration, and expand and preserve archives relating to the Pullman story. Annual membership.

This active group maintains the flowerbeds in Arcade Park, Pullman Park, Fulton Field, Langley Playlot, and Gateway Garden. Meets monthly on 1st Wednesday at 7 pm at 614 E. 113th St. New members welcomed and open to all. Annual membership.

PA works to promote arts in Pullman and sponsors artistic events throughout the year. In partnership with Artspace, Inc. and Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives, PullmanArts is creating artist live/work spaces called Pullman Artspace Lofts. Monthly Meetings held on the 1st Monday of every month.

Pullman Historic Restoration Project

A fundraising group for restoring public buildings and structures in Pullman.

Located at 11111 Forrestville, Hotel Florence. The hotel is currently closed while it is undergoing renovations. A virtual museum provides a cohesive mechanism for the interpretation of the Pullman story. They run the 1st and 3rd Sunday Pullman Factory Site Tours in partnership with the Pullman National Monument during warmer months.

There is no charge for the use of the research and archival collections.

President Barack Obama designated Pullman as a National Monument, thus a component of the NPS, on February 19, 2015. It became the first unit of the National Park Service in Chicago. The temporary Pullman National Monument Visitor Information Center is at 11141 Cottage Grove and will move to the Clock Tower Building after restoration is completed.

PULLMAN ANNUAL EVENTS

Garden Club Lecture Series (January-March)

Annual Bowling Night (April)

Morris May Day Dance Performance in Arcade Park (May 1st or closest Sunday)

Pullman has many groups, most of which have a Facebook page, to find even more, click here.

THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Pullman is bounded by 103rd Street on the North, 115th Street on the South, the railroad tracks on the East and Cottage Grove on the West. It is one of Chicago’s 77 defined community areas.

TRANSPORTATION

METRA- Pullman is served by two Metra Electric Line stations: Kensington (115th Street) and Pullman (111th Street). Most Metra suburban express trains passing through the area stop at the 115th Street station, and only local trains stop at the 111th Street station. When heading home double-check the train as some Electric Line trains go to South Shore, you want the University Park or Blue Island trains. At rush hour Olympia Fields Express trains do not stop at Kensington.

CTA- There are buses that travel North along Cottage Grove to the 95th Street Red Line Station and bus lines going West on 111th and 115th.

SURROUNDING AREAS

Chicago sales tax is ~10%; Indiana sales tax is 7%, with no tax on food. Gas is a little cheaper in the suburbs than in the city by 5¢ to 10¢, and gas is usually 35¢ to 45¢ cheaper in Indiana than in Chicago.

Nearby Neighborhoods

West: Roseland, Beverly, Morgan Park, Mt. Greenwood,

East: South Chicago, Hegewisch, South Shore

North: Chatham, Hyde Park, Bronzeville

Nearby Suburbs

West: Evergreen Park, Oak Lawn, Blue Island

South: Dolton, South Holland, Lansing, Calumet City

Southwest: Tinley Park, Orland Park

South Indiana: Hammond, Whiting, Schererville

EDUCATION

George M. Pullman Elementary SchoolPre K- 8th | 11311 S. Forrestville Ave – Chicago Public School (CPS) supported by the Pullman neighborhood. The School operates to serve the increasing number of children who are school age living in Pullman and surrounding areas. It is a Level 1+ (highest level according to CPS) school.

Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy 9th-12th grades | 250 East 111th Street – Recognized at #10 in the State of Illinois, Brooks is a selective enrollment four year high school operating as a university-preparatory school. Brooks operates an Academic Center that accepts students into its selective enrollment 7th and 8th grade programs.

Contact the Chicago Public School System (www.cps.edu) website for more information on the above schools

CHICAGO PUBLIC COLLEGES

Olive-Harvey City College 10001 S Woodlawn | Largest campus of any of the City Colleges. The college is the city’s premier institution for transportation, distribution and logistics (TDL) programs.

Richard J Daley City College7500 South Pulaski Rd | The College to Careers advanced manufacturing hub. The college also boasts a 60,000-volume library and labs for chemistry, physics, biology and math.

Kennedy-King City College 6301 S Halsted | Encompasses the Washburne Culinary Institute, Sikia and Parrot Cage restaurants, Dawson Technical Institute and the WYCC PBS television station. Its College to Careers industry focus is culinary arts and hospitality.

Chicago StateUniversity | Opened its doors as a teacher training school in a leaky railroad freight car in Blue Island in1867. Today, the university is a fully accredited public, urban institution located on 161-picturesque acres in a residential community on the far Southside of Chicago.

Del Santo’s Italian Deli 976 Steger Rd., Crete | A favorite with Pullmanites. Family owned business started in 1946 on 115th in Roseland, now in Crete. The family tradition continues with the 3rd generation making sausage from a recipe that has been in the family for more than 60 years. Homemade Italian Beef, spaghetti sauce and other Italian specialties keep customers coming back for more.

Frangella Italian Market, Palos Park | 11925 S 80th Ave, Palos Park | Deli features house-made roast beef, meatballs, arancini and all the fixings for subs, with loaves of D’Amato’s bread and focaccia to buy, too. The wine and liquor department is small but has grappa, anisette and limoncello. Owned by Gina and Francesco Frangella.

Calabria Imports 1905 W 103rd St

Joe & Franks Market 7147 W Archer

Misch Bros. Grocery 745 Burnham Ave., Calumet City | Family owned, The current location has changed little since it opened in 1938. The place to get homemade polish sausage. The building Itself isn’t very inviting. It kind of looks like a small warehouse. No signs, no windows, just two doors but smell the sausage wafting through the store. From ground beef to T-bone steaks, they grind, cut, and fillet everything on site

Jack & Pat’s Old Fashioned Butcher Shop 10717 Ridgeland

Liquor Stores

Binnys 3447 95th St, Evergreen Park

Binnys 1240 E 47th St, Hyde Park

Kenwood Liquors 8810 S Stony Island Ave

Grocery

Pete’s Fresh Market 1968 Sibley, Calumet City | 3448 E. 118th | 3720 W. 95th | 3448 E 118th | Family-owned south side grocery chain that began as a produce stand Chicago’s south side in the 1970’s featuring a full-service kitchen, bakery & deli, plus an on-site butcher, international foods and large produce selection with fruit and vegetables hand-picked and delivered daily.

Also These Grocery Stores have In-House Bakeries- see grocery store listing for address

Marianos- Bronzeville

Marianos- Oak Lawn

Marianos- Evergreen Park

Pete’s – Dolton, Evergreen Park, and Eastside

Whole Foods- Hyde Park

BEACHES

12th St Beach Good views and the great outdoors are what you’ll get at this near South Side spot. Located conveniently close to the nature trails of​ ​the 91-acre​ ​Northerly Island​ ​(but really, it’s a peninsula), a visit to 12th Street​ ​Beach​ ​will have you poised for an entire day of outdoor activities should you be interested. The beach also offers one of the best northward views of the city.​ ​After working up an appetite hiking, swimming and sunbathing, pop into Del Campo’s, an authentic Mexican-fare stand selling everything from tortas and tacos to ceviche right on the beachfront.

31st St Beach By far one of the best beaches that Chicago’s South Side has to offer, the strip of sand at 31st Street has all the fixings for a great day in the sun. There’s a concession stand, restrooms and a lifeguard station, making this a great spot for families with young swimmers. There’s also an impressive playground nearby for when your kids inevitably get bored with their sand toys.

Oakwood Beach 4100 S Lake Shore Dr Chicago’s newest beach on the South Side features a comfort station covered in a large mural by artist Jeff Zimmerman. Amenities: restrooms, lifeguard first aid station.

63rd St Beach The jerk chicken served at Belly Up, a stall selling Jamaican (and other) fare at 63rd Street Beach will have you feeling like you’re in the Caribbean instead of Chicago. It’s located in historic Jackson Park and home to an iconic pavilion popular for beachfront weddings and events. There’s also an interactive splash pad and fountain where you can let your inner-kid run free, or take a more adult approach to getting wet by hitting the distance swimming section that runs along the shore.

South Shore Beach As a part of the South Shore Cultural Center, this beach has something for everyone. A country club–esque beach house, golf course, tennis courts and nature sanctuary await visitors. Amenities: restrooms, life guard first aid station.

Rainbow Beach and Park Part of the 60-acre Rainbow Park, this South Side beach is adjacent to one of Chicago’s oldest public gardens. Amenities: concessions, playground, restrooms, life guard first aid station, wifi.

Calumet Beach Located near the Indiana state line, getting to Calumet Beach can be a bit of a journey. The beach connects to a sprawling park that offers an artificial turf soccer field and fields for football and softball. Amenities: concessions, restrooms, lockers, playground, life guard first aid station.

PARKS

Arcade Park Located in the Pullman community, Arcade Park is a park location used for passive recreation. Park patrons can relax in this open green space while enjoying the beauty of nature and a garden-like setting.

Langley Playlot Located in the Pullman community, there is a playground, basketball courts and open grass area with a small track.

Pullman Park Located in the Pullman neighborhood, Pullman Park is a park location used for passive recreation. Park patrons can relax in this open green space on benches while enjoying the beauty of nature

Gately Park Located in the Pullman community, Gately Park totals 25.04 acres and features a multi-purpose clubroom. Outside, the park offers a playground, softball/baseball diamonds, basketball courts, and Little League Baseball Stadium. Many of these spaces are available for rental including our ball fields. This park is adjacent to Gately Stadium, a CPS facility.

Palmer Park Located in the Roseland community, Palmer Park totals 40.48 acres and features a fitness center, youth wellness center, gymnasium and multi-purpose clubrooms. Outside, the park offers an aquatic center, soccer field, baseball/softball diamonds, basketball /tennis courts, and playground. Many of these spaces are available for rental including our gymnasium, and multi-purpose clubrooms.

Mann Park Located in the Hegewisch community, Mann Park totals 20 acres and features two gymnasiums, an indoor swimming pool and woodshop. A green feature of our park includes a Harvest Garden. Outside, the park offers seven ball fields, tennis and volleyball courts, playground, and a roller hockey court. Many of these spaces are available for rental including our gymnasiums, ball fields, and multi-purpose room.

Bohn Park Located in the Morgan Park community area, Bohn Park is a park location used for passive recreation. Park patrons can relax in this open green space while enjoying the beauty of nature.

Ridge Park Located in the Morgan Park community area, Ridge Park is a park location with many classes including swimming, theater, woodworking, gymnastics, field sports and a small gym.

West Pullman Park 15.64 acres and features an indoor swimming pool, two gymnasiums and multi-purpose clubrooms. A green feature of the park includes a natural savanna area. Outside, the park offers tennis/ basketball courts, baseball/softball fields, playground, and spray pool. Many of these spaces are available for rental including our gymnasiums and multi-purpose clubrooms. 401 W. 123rd St.

Located minutes from Chicago’s Loop, the two links-style courses are Dick Nugent designs built on reclaimed land that showcase the city skyline at many of the holes. Driving range, putting green, pitching/chipping area, practice bunker, pro shop

South Shore Golf Course, 7059 South Shore Drive

Rates: 9 holes $18.00

Once a private course, situated on the shores of Lake Michigan. This par 33 course welcome golfers of all skill levels and features tall trees, tight green and multiple tee boxes. Now part of the Chicago Park District

Jackson Park Golf Course, 6401 S Stoney Island Ave

Rates: 18 holes $32

Historic 18 hole course has mature hardwood trees protecting the fariways and greens putting emphasis on accurate shots. Part of the Chicago Park District

This program is administered by the Cook County Assessor’s Office and requires an annual application. Homeowners can make up to $75,000 worth of property improvements without an increase in property taxes for at least 4 years. The value varies depending on the reduction of the assessed value and the tax rates where the property is located. Any exemption that is granted will be reflected on the Second Installment tax bill.

Landmark Tax Freeze

For Owner Occupied Residence in Chicago Landmark District. Rehab minimum investment must be 25% of market value. Requires application, before and after photos and additional documents (contracts, receipts, cancelled checks)

Property Fraud Alert System

Sign-up for an Issue Fraud alert through the Cook County Recorder of Deeds office to be notified of changes. The Cook County Recorder of Deeds now allows you to sign-up to receive an automated e-mail or phone call that will alert you each time a document (e.g. deed conveyance, mortgage, etc.) is recorded that affects the title of your property. You can register to be alerted not only for your own properties, but also for the properties of relatives (or estates or trusts) that you might want to monitor for their protection.

*All resources listed here have been submitted by area residents and do not necessarily reflect an endorsement by The Pullman Civic Organization.